Teenager Arrested Over Mass School Bomb Hoax
Following a massive bomb hoax that shut down hundreds of schools and colleges across the UK, the teen believed to be in the middle of a Minecraft gamers' feud was detained.
The 19-year-old was detained by Hertfordshire police after some 24,000 threats were sent to schools informing them of an impending bomb attack if cash wasn't handed over.
The emails were spoofed to appear as if they had been sent by a gaming network known as VeltPvP. VeltPvP, an online Minecraft player-versus-player server is the same service that businesses use to market their products to gamers.
A teenager thought to be at the center of the Minecraft gamers' squabble was arrested following a mass bomb hoax closed hundreds of schools across the UK. The 19-year old was arrested by Hertfordshire police after 24,000 emails were sent out to schools warning of an impending attack
The emails were aimed at cause the domain to be banned because of abuse. They are thought to be sent by a group aiming to undermine VeltPvP.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said there was 'no credible threat to the emails' that were received this week.
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They said in a statement"We understand teachers and parents' concerns but stress there was no threat of serious consequence to the emails schools received.
We are however taking these communications very seriously. We are unable comment further on this as it is an ongoing investigation.
Following the bomb hoax emails the school was surrounded by signs Cardinal Road School in Feltham
The dispute was based on the idea that rivals were involved in illegal activities in order to hinder one another from doing business.
It's horrible and it's not the most pleasant thing', one hoaxers involved stated when asked if he regretted the effect the letters had had on school students who were forced to evacuate.
Placing the blame on VeltPvP, the hoaxer said the network had enaged in a series of Direct Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which he claims were used to block other rival Minecraft servers.
Parents were asked to collect their children following the bomb hoax threat email
In an announcement, VeltPvP said: 'We've been being harassed by cybercriminals who are trying to smear us in any way possible.
"We are extremely sorry for those who were affected by this, but we want to inform you that this is not real." Minecraft servers list Minecraft servers list
More than 400 schools and colleges across the country received the email that claimed the bomb was planted and would be detonated if the cash was not handed over.
Cardinal Road School in Feltham West London, was among the schools who received the hoax email.
Police forces from London, Bristol, Liverpool, Bedfordshire and the the North East were among those investigating.
Parents at some schools asked to be able to pick up their children in the wake of concerns about the emails.
Six schools in Hertfordshire were also affected: Abbots Hill, Valley School, Stevenage, The Sele School, Duncombe School, Stanborough School, Watford, St Albans High School and Valley School.
